Saturday, February 13, 2010

Food Organic



"Organic" is today's buzz word for the health-conscious consumer, but what does the term really mean? Because many items make this claim, the US government regulates the use of the term on food products.

Simply put, organic means that a food was produced without the use of pesticides, genetically modified organisms, or synthetic hormones. This type of produce must be grown separately from conventional produce using natural fertilizers and natural insect control methods. Organic livestock must be fed all-natural grain and have access to the outdoors in order to qualify as organic meat. The same is true for the cows that produce organic dairy products.

Among organic foods, there are several types of classifications. If the label says "100 % organic," then the item must be completely organic and will bear the USDA Organic seal. If the label only says "organic," then it is made with at least 95% organic ingredients but may still bear the USDA seal. If the label reads "made with organic ingredients," then the item contains at least 75% organic ingredients and cannot bear the USDA seal. If the label states "contains organic ingredients," then the item contains less than 70% organic ingredients and cannot bear the USDA seal.

These labels might seem confusing at first, but it is important to remember that replacing any conventional products with a more natural alternative is a step in the right direction toward healthy eating. Organic food can be a wonderful way to reduce your exposure to pesticides and maintain overall wellbeing.

You will find that many more grocery stores now offer a special section for shoppers looking for products with this label. If yours does not yet offer the, ask the manager to think about doing so.

Joseph has been writing articles online for nearly 5 years now. Along with being considerate of what he eats, he enjoys writing articles about families and gardening, check out one of his favorite web sites Garden Harvest Supply which offers annual potted flowers for sale.

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